Rx 300 Stereo

[Optimist]

Greetings All

I joined the LOC about 4 yrs ago but was unable to post, I have been an avid reader of the forum. I own a RX 300 SE which is approaching 12 years since first registration, mileage is around 75K. Undoubtedly the best vehicle I have ever owned and I intend to replace it with an RX 450. The problem is that the original fit stereo has ceased to make any sound: all the lights come on, stations and CD's can be changed but no sound. The dealer has tried a new amplifier but that did not make any difference so the old one was re-installed; all fuses and connections checked by dealer and an independent auto electrician, all seems fine. The complete dash unit has been taken out by Mobile Solutions in Derby and sent off to to an outfit that repairs such items, to date and after 6 weeks they cannot get it to work, although they are still trying, they do not market reconditioned units. The cost of a replacement unit from Lexus is around £1,500 which is a fair part of the vehicles part-ex value of around £3,500, however, without the radio the part-ex value is reduced by that amount although I may be able to negotiate the sum down a little.

Has anybody had experience of such stereo problems or know of the availability of recon units?

I would be most grateful for any response.

Cheers

[ColinBarber]

Is it a series I or II? You can find parts on eBay now and again.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-RX300-Sat-Nav-CD-Multi-Disc-Radio-Tape-Player-/221747378818?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a12c7a82

[Optimist]

Colin

Thanks for the response, it is a Mk 2. I will be bidding on the E Bay item.

Cheers

John

[ColinBarber]

Best of luck. Please make sure it contains the right part before bidding.

[ChrisKaye]

Hi optimist,

Have you had your old stereo out? If not you might want to do that to grab the model/part number (unless you have it written down from the dealer investigation).

The only reason I ask is that if you have sat nav, I'm not sure if a slightly different model may work happily with it!

If your system is not a Mark Levinson or Sat Nav one, you have another cheaper option in that you can buy a trim adaptor and fit any touchscreen radio, total cost most likely £200-250... Let me know if this sounds like an alternative and I'll dig out some links for you!

Chris

[ChrisKaye]

Links easier to find than I thought:

£35 - Trim adapter: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lexus-RX300-RX350-Car-CD-Stereo-Double-Din-Fascia-Panel-Adaptor-Kit-CT23LX01-/350633850149?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51a367f525

£100 - Pioneer CD/DVD/Sat Nav unit with optional reverse camera input: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pioneer-FH-X700BT-Double-Din-Bluetooth-Car-Stereo-USB-AUX-input-iPod-iPhone-/121599124560?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c4fdf6450

So, a cheaper option possibly than a Lexus replacement Head Unit...!

[Optimist]

Chris

Thank you so much for taking such trouble on my account, I confess that I laboured under the delusion that only a Lexus unit would fit.

I did not think to ask for the part number when the unit was extricated from my dash but I think such should be obtainable from the repairer.

I do not have Sat Nav or a reversing camera and the unit is not the Mark Levinson version.

I am about to check out the links you have provided.

I did check out the E Bay item that Colin indicated, and it certainly looks the same as mine, but I suppose that is not the most stringent and accurate test to apply. From the photograph on E Bay it is not Mark Levinson and does not have Sat Nav, judging by the age of the donor vehicle (2005) I do not think that it would have a reversing camera. EDIT: It does have Sat Nav, all I have to do is read the description!

Would I be correct in concluding that the only reliable approach is to check out part numbers?

Again my thanks to you both.

Cheers

John

[ChrisKaye]

Hi John,

Other if you don't currently have a Sat Nav unit, then the eBay links I found above is the way to go.

The main problem if you have a Sat Nav unit, is that you have to use the touch screen to set your blower motors and air vent outlets, see your mpg/trip information etc.

If your SE has a large-ish LCD display at the top, all the above info is displayed on that so you are free to go to a different head unit.

As you are selling the car you probably won't care what options the head unit comes with, but if you shop carefully, you can get one with sat-Nav, Bluetooth/hands free, reversing camera etc... May make the car far more attractive to purchase over any other RX's in the area for sale!!

If I can find any fitting/installation guides for the RX, I'll post the links as this will save you another £100 of fitting costs...

[ChrisKaye]

Here's a link showing 2 things:

A) Non-sat nav Lexus RX stereo

B) How to remove it!

Does this look like your unit?

[ChrisKaye]

This is what a new setup would look like in your car:

Using the eBay parts Ilinked above....

[Optimist]

Chris

Again many thanks, I do agree with your view that a half decent stereo makes the vehicle more saleable. I think I can get a unit professionally installed by a friend of my stepson. I am quite clumsy and it is not a job I would personally tackle. Do you have any direct or reported experience of the units and installation service offered by Halfords? I just have a feeling that my original unit is not repairable and that soon I will be following your valued advice.

All the best

John

[ChrisKaye]

Hi John,

Thanks for your kind words, I am happy to help where I can.

Personally, I would wait for your friend of the family to fit it once you decide which path to head down, rest assured that no soldering or wire cutting is required for this kind of work, with the right adapters, everything is "plug and play".

As for Halfords, personally the frighten me. The only time I have ever trusted them with a job (oil change on an MR2 I had just bought and didn't have time or tools to do myself due to a recent housemove), they let an apprentice loose on my car, who proceeded to jack it up in the air and promptly started disassembling the front of the car's undertray, whilst I stood dumbfounded in the viewing area.

I can forgive the young lad for not knowing MR2's are rear engined when they are on the ground especially as mine was probably as old as him BUT when you have it 5ft in the air and have just walked under the engine to get to the front of the car, there is no excuse!

I managed to stop him before he'd removed the undertray and requested they not perform the oil change, which I managed to do a week or so later at a friends, but not after part of the plastic undertray came off on an A road where he didn't bolt it back together properly.....! The only person to look after your car with care is ultimately you as the owner as you forked out for the cash to buy it initially.

Chris.

[Optimist]

Gents

An update which I will keep as short as possible.

I was about to write off the unit I had sent for repair when Mobile Solutions said that it had been fixed, I travelled to Derby but when re-installed, still no good. This indicated the separate amplifier which had been previously checked by Lexus B'ham, I visited them and they assured me that the amplifier was OK and that the wiring had been checked. Back to Mobile Solutions who at a very reasonable cost took the amplifier out and found that the power feed to the amp was faulty, replaced and now everything is working fine. It would seem that something caused the head unit and a power lead to fail at the same time. Concerned that Lexus did not spot the faulty power lead, particularly as their labour charge was £225, and I will be visting them to discuss the matter and suggest that the labour charge for Mobile Solutions to find the fault they missed plus my petrol should be reimbursed.

My final bill to Mobile Solutions was over £500 so about £725 in total, a lot of money to spend on a 12 year old vehicle but half of what Lexus would have charged for a new head unit.

I did consider fitting a non-Lexus replacement unit but apparently a lot of work (and cost) involved to link it up with the existing arrangement.

Excellent service from Mobile Solutions (Rob) at Derby.

My thanks to Colin and Chris on this site for their interest and assistance.

John

[DanD]

Good outcome!

Let us know what your Lexus dealer offers as compensation.

Might even be worth letting them know that members of this forum are eagerly awaiting your update!... might help turn things around in your favour!

[Optimist]

Greetings All

A brief note from me to finalise this one. Lexus Birmingham acknowledged that they should have spotted the faulty power lead to the amplifier and I have been refunded the cost of the diagnostic work done by Mobile Soluitions and the cost of my petrol plus a consideration for the time I have spent travelling to and from Derby. All well handled by Faye Staley at Lexus Birmingham. My thanks to those on this site who took the trouble to offer assistance.

Cheers

John

[Karen Hogan]

Hi need help. Have Lexus RX300 2001. Have been told we need new radio head. Question is would a 2002 version work as that’s all I can find at reasonable price

[Herbie]

55 minutes ago, Karen Hogan said:

Hi need help. Have Lexus RX300 2001. Have been told we need new radio head. Question is would a 2002 version work as that’s all I can find at reasonable price

You may get more answers if you start your own topic instead of tagging onto the end of a 6 year old one

I can't answer the question but just keep your eyes open on eBay breakers or any breakers near you.

[ColinBarber]

7 hours ago, Karen Hogan said:

Hi need help. Have Lexus RX300 2001. Have been told we need new radio head. Question is would a 2002 version work as that’s all I can find at reasonable price

Yes I believe so, I'm not aware of any change between 2001 and 2002 to the stereo.